Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, JULY 26, 1920. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Patea Mail, Volume XLIV, 26 July 1920, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press MONDAY, JULY 26, 1920. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

• We < ruing Id a i*«''(*<*iii Auckland telegram the lion. {leorge Powlds Is ai present busily engaged in 1 ho formation of a Proportional !?e----presen 1 ai ion League for New Zealand willi 1 lie object ol’ having Hu* nroporlional voting system take the place of 1 hat a I present i i • vogue. The Labour Parly 100 are also keenly anxious that propor•ional represent'a I im; should bee'lr.io law. 'The chief reason given in support ol' I lie proposed change is that ilm now system will pi',-. I ) every parly that representation io wb’eh ils numbers entitle ii. llov; 1 his will make tor liio be!ft-:* government nl! the people 1 lie ad- ' -' aJos of the sy.-;1 erfi are of course quip unable to say with any degree of certainly. The average individual will probably as,axe that lie prop n-tional system if eaaided old: will result in something like ebaom inamnueb as il would resub hi a. Parliament composed ebieliy >!' e-aiiks, if every kind of politieal party was io be representedo New Zealand ha ; been noted for he political faddists for some linn' hip fortunately comparatively few of then- have sneeeeded in entering Parliament. Bad as the latter body may bo at the present time d ■'.rould be iniiniloly worse with an army of cranks and faddists in : ts midst, eaeb striving for bis own goal and little, else. A Vital; is really required is not a. Parliament eomposod of a number of sue!; men, each keen on boosting Ids own pet bobby, but a Parliament o' broad-minded individuals who .’Mi see that gen era. 1 legislation ai ilif* lines of achieving tin* swap's! gm d for (bet groat os! ••nr; bee 5;; I)voug!it abouL We ■a-und see tliat llie demoei'ab; have n.neli to complain of in the > ■<-, eid aval cm. The waterside •, ..*rk<- r, v. In has been Involve nonilm in Pn Dominion and who may be leaving the country in anil her twelve months and consequently has very lit lie regard for . l:e presi'nt or future dc\e!opmenl )i’ the country has an equal vole - in the election of members with i I io pioneer who has biased I ho Irail for llie rising general ion and has a stake in the country in the hape of a ;farm in which lie has amk his all. It would appear that iiie democratic malcontents win ire so keenly anxious for a cbmum do not. know when liny a re well ■iff or they would no I lie agitating for the repeal of the present sylom in favour of proporlional representation or anythin''' else. No ••easonahle person will deny that the present Parliament in common with each and every one that has existed during the paT twenty wars leaves much io be desired, instead of the bitter parly IVcliw 1 hat. is always so much in (-rid' nee hampering those who happen 1 i be occupying the 'ih-easnry benel tes for Ibo time being, it would be bolter in the country's inlerests to have a body of men eager io advance llie inleresis of llie country on general Inn's, but ve cannot, see how proporl ional representation is going; Io bring this about. Now Zealand to-day, if it maids anything at all wants a Parliament that will in ml on the ■ munlry being governed on sound progressive lines, its back country

opened np and its mineral resources developed in Hie shortest possible time, and its public works carried out in an up-to-date manner in place of the present antediluvian style. If the supportersof proportional representation will bring about this happy state of affairs instead of tilling Parliament with men who will let the genera! welfare of the country la.ke its chance whilst they are concentrating in their respective party fads, then there may be some hope for them. At the pre(ui time we are afraid they are doomed to disappointment. Fey/cr faddists and more keen ha is headed business men to manage its affairs is what the. country requires most at present.